Mechanically propelled toy with automatic reversal in the opposite direction



Feb. 28, 1939. MU 2,149,180

MEGHANICALLY PROPELLED TOY WITH AUTOMATIC REVERSAL IN THE OPPOSITEDIRECTION Filed May 21, 1937 Patented Feb. 28, 1939 M'EOHANICALLYPROPELLED TOY WI'IH AU- TOMATIC REVERSAL IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTIONHeinrich Miiller, Nuremberg, Germany Application May 21, 1937, SerialNo. 144,061 In Germany February 28, 1937 Claims.

My invention relates to a mechanically propelled toy with automaticreversal in the opposite direction.

Mechanically propelled toys which, on meeting an obstacle in thedirection of travel, are reversed in the opposite direction, are known.Furthermore mechanically propelled toys are known which are eithercontrolled by hand or automatically in the position to move forward withvarying speeds in the same direction of travel. This latter elfect ismostly produced by a supplementary gear being inserted in the drivingmechanism which itself consumes energy. In this way, a considerableportion of the driving energy is lost.

The invention has as its object animprovement of these knownmechanically propelled toys and it is a further object in true imitationof actual practice, to allow a mechanically propelled toy andin'particular an imitation of a motor vehicle, to carry out the backwardmovement much more slowly than the forward movement, so that excessforce for pulling or up-hill running is at disposal. Here theswitching-in of the backward travel can be effected by meeting with anobstacle, or also by hand. An important feature of the invention ascompared with known mechanically propelled toys is, however, theautomatic switching in of gearing spindles which permit the whole springforce to be made available for the drive of the mechanieally propelledtoy. By the use of the invention, therefore, a mechanically propelledtoy can be made to carry out more slowly the rearward travel than theforward travel, whilst the switching over from slow to rapid working isto take place automatically. The means used for overcoming thedifiiculties arising in this are also objects of. the invention.

The known mechanically propelled toys with automatic reversal of therunning direction into the opposite direction work for a good reason forboth directions with the same comparatively high running speed. Thereason of this is that it is necessary to use for the reversing processon meeting with the obstacle, the force of the moved mass of the runningtoy. If consequently the speed did not reach a certain value, then theacceleration force and the reversing process on meeting with theobstacle is either not carried out-at all or takes place onlyimperfectly. Thus, for example, the slow running can be switched out.whilst the force inherent to the mechanically propelled toy does notsuffice to switch in the rapid running differently directed, thus thespring mechanism runs down without any outwardly visible efiect.

These drawbacks are overcome by the invention according to which asupplementary source of energy of suitable character is charged on the5- switching in of the slow running, the energy of which is released bya slight movement of the switch lever switching in the rapid running,thus reliably producing the desired change-over.

The invention will be more fully explained with 10 reference to twoembodiments which are shown diagrammatically on the accompanyingdrawing.

Fig. 1 shows the underneath view of a mechanically propelled toy withthe mechanism in position for slow running.

Fig. 2 is the underneath view of a slight modification of the same toyafter the reversing mechanism has been operated.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically the essential parts of a modifiedembodiment of thetoy shown in Figs. 1-3.

Referring now to Figs. 1-3 of the drawing is shown a coiled spring bcarried in the mechanism frame a and the driving wheel of which is inpermanent engagement through a spurwheel 0, with a spindle d. Thespindle d carries at one end a larger toothed. wheel 1 whichcontinuously meshes with the spur-wheel g of a gear spindle h. A gearspindle it carries at one end a toothed wheel i. In the mechanism framea there is also carried a pair of driven wheels and a pair of runningwheels. The pair of driven wheels is rigidly keyed on to an axle k whichcarries a switch spur-gear m which is slidably keyed to said axlebetween said driven wheels. As may be gathered from the drawing, thisspurwheel, by sliding on the axle 70 can be brought into engagementeither with the toothed wheel I 4o or with the toothed wheel z of thegear spindle h.

In this manner, there is produced on the one hand a more powerful slowrunning which can be used for the backward travel of the toy, whilst onthe other hand, there is provided by means of the toothed wheel 1' anoppositely directed rapid movement of the axle k, for driving the toyforward.

The change-over from slow to rapid running is effected by means of aslide 0 and a further to switching element 1:. The slide 0 is carriedfor example by means of lugs r in slots of the sides of the mechanismframe and by means of an upwardly bent nose piece 8 adapted to engagethe switching element 1). This switching element 1) is shown on thedrawing by way of example as a cross shaped switching lever which isoscillatably carried at t on the under side of the mechanism frame. Itsopposite end is under the infiuence of a spring it which tends tooscillate the whole switching lever clockwise (Figs. 1 and 2). A furtherarm 1) 'of the switching lever embraces in the form of a fork, a guidedisc w provided on the switching spur-wheel m. A fourth arm 2:, engagingwith the nose piece 8 of the slide 0, of the switching lever p is soshaped that the end of this arm a: can serve as guide camming surfacefor the nosepiece s.

The method of operation of the arrangement is as follows: Suppose thedevice according to Figure l is adjusted for slow rlmning and strikes anobstacle. The actuating slide at this time is in the position shown inFig. 1 and is drawn out until it is clamped by its nose piece 8 betweenthe one side a of the mechanism frame and the arm a: of the switchinglever p. The clamping effect is here attained by the tension of thespring u. A slight impact of the actuating slide 0 made for example at,its end in the form of a push rod, then suffices to shift the nose piece3 so far to the right that the energy stored up in the spring a effectsthe further operating movement, that is, the drawing in of the actuatingslide 0 into the device. Here the actuating lever p oscillates about itsbearing t and the lever arm 12 shifts the spur-wheel m on the guide discto along the axlek. The slow running gear train through the pair oftoothed wheels I, m, is thus disconnected and the rapid running train isconnected through the pair of toothed wheels m, i. The parts of thedevice are then in the position shown in Fig. 2.

The change-over from rapid to slow running can then be effected eitherby hand, as by drawing out the actuating slide 0, or by means of a pushrod i0 .(Fig. 2) which may be provided at the opposite end of themechanically propelled toy, which may be a continuation of the operatingslide 0. The acceleration force arising on the rapid forward movement ofthe propelled toy will then on hitting against an obstacle be sufficientto shift the actuating slide 0 so far to the left that the bindingposition of the nose piece s between the arm a: of the switching lever pand the side a of the mechanism frame is reached. As a subsidiary effectthere is here attained a damping of the running energy as the force ofthe spring u must be overcome. The braking of the vehicle therebyattained protects it from damage by striking too energetically againstthe obstacle. If the change-over to slow running takes place by hand,then there are here no difilculties at all. The nose piece s slidesalong the end serving as a guide curve of the arm a: and thus oscillatesthe switching lever p with fresh tensioning of the spring it. At thesame time, the moving backward of the actuating spur-wheel m is attainedby means of the lever arm 1) so that in this way there is again obtainedthe coupling of the toothed wheels I and m.

The example according to Fig. 4 shows that a spring is not absolutelynecessary as' the source of energy for the shifting. In this embodimentthe running axle k is carried in a loop or stirrup n which isoscillatable at y. The spring drum b drives a spur-wheel c the spindleof which acts by means of the toothed wheel I on the actuatingspur-wheel m of the running axle firmly keyed thereon. The toothed wheelengages as in the first embodiment, with a spur-wheel g of a gearspindle h which by its toothed wheel 1 can im part to the actuatingspur-wheel m and with it to the running axle k a rapid oppositelydirected movement. The loop n is at one end under the influence of theactuating slide 0 and is extended upward into a weight lever z which canalso serve as actuating lever.

The arrangement operates as follows: The slow running switched in inFig. 4 moves the travelling toy in the direction of the arrow. If theactuating slide 0 meets with an obstacle it oscillates even with theslightest force of acceleration, the lever 12 so that the weight lever 2which preferably consists with the lever n of one piece swings to theleft and effects the switching over process by its excess weight. Thespur-wheel m is then in positive connection with the toothed wheel 1'and transmits to this an oppositely directed rapid driving course. Inthis embodiment also the change-over from the rapid to the slow movementcan be attained either by hand or automatically by a suitablelengthening of the actuating slide 0 to one side of the mechanicallypropelled toy.

The embodiment shown naturally permits a large number of alterationswithout altering the effect striven for. Thus, for example, the leverarm 1) according to Figs. 1 to 3 need not embrace aguide disc w butcould engage with a finger in a groove of the driving member m and whichis provided in this driving member m itself or on the side thereof.Furthermore, it would not be necessary for the nose piece s to run onthe end of the arm a: but this nose piece s could have the shape of apin which engages in a correspondingly shaped slot of the arm at.Furthermore, the slide 0 could have the form of a switch rod or beshaped in any other way. Assuming that the spur-wheel m is fitted firmlyon the running axle it, this axle could be carried longitudinallymovable against the pressure of a spring. The spring would here takeover the task of the energy accumulator according to the invention sothat the spring u can be dispensed with.

As the two embodiments given as examples and the following particularsshow, the invention is not restricted to the details of the drawing andthe description. It is embodied when a mechanically propelled toy hasdifferent speeds in its two movements oppositely directed and/ or thechangeover from the slow to the fast speed takes place with thecooperation of the force of a previously loaded source of force.

I claim:-

1. A mechanically propelled toy comprising a power source, drivingwheels, gear wheels between said source and said driving wheels fordriving said toy in one direction of travel at one speed, gear wheelsbetween said source and said driving wheels for driving said toy inanother direction at a different speed and means for alternativelyconnecting said gear wheels to said source.

2. A mechanically propelled toy comprising a power source, drivingwheels, gear wheels between said source and said driving wheels fordriving said toy in one direction of travel at one speed, gear wheelsbetween said source and said driving wheels for driving said toy inanother direction at a different speed means separate from said firstpower source for alternatively connecting said gear wheels to saidsource, said means comprising movable connecting means, actuating meansfor moving said connecting means to establish said alternateconnections.

3. A mechanically propelled toy comprising a power source, drivingwheels having an axle, gear wheels between said source and said drivingwheels for driving said toy in one direction of travel at one speed,gear wheels between said source and said driving wheels for driving saidtoy in another direction at a difierent speed and. means comprising amovable gear on said axle,

said last named gear alternatively connecting said other gears to saidsource of power to drive said axle.

4. A mechanically propelled toy comprising a power source, drivingwheels having an axle, gear wheels between said source and said drivingwheels for driving said toy in one direction of travel at one speed,gear wheels between said source and said driving wheels for driving saidtoy in another direction at a different speed, a movable driving axlegear for alternatively connecting one or the other of said gear wheelsto said source and an auxiliary means for moving the said axle gear fromone torthe other of said gear wheels. j,

5. A mechanically propelled'toy' comprising a power source, drivingwheels havingan axle, gear wheels between said 'source and said drivingwheels for driving said toy in one direction of travel at one speed,gear wheels between said source and said driving wheels for driving saidtoy in another direction at a diiferent speed, a movable driving axlegear for alternatively connecting one or the other of said gear wheelsto said source, an auxiliary means for moving the said axle gear fromone to the other of said gear wheels and means for initiating the changefrom one connection to the other which is completed by the saidauxiliary power source.

6. A mechanically propelled toy comprising a power source, drivingwheels having an axle, gear wheels between said source and said drivingwheels for driving said toy in one direction of travel at one speed,gear wheels between said source and said driving wheels for driving saidtoy in another direction at a different speed, a movable driving axlegear for alternatively connecting one or the other of said gear wheelsto said source, an auxiliary means for moving the said axle gear fromone to the other of said gear wheels and means comprising a rod forinitiating the change from one connection to the other which iscompleted by the said auxiliary power source. power source, drivingwheels having an axle, gear 7. A mechanically propelled toy comprising awheels between said source and said driving wheels for driving said toyin one direction of travel at one speed, gear wheels between said sourceand said driving wheels for driving said toy in another direction at adiiferent speed, a movable driving axle gear for alternativelyconnecting one or the other of said gear wheels to said source, anauxiliary means for moving the said axle gear from one to the other ofsaid gear wheels and means comprising a lever for initiating the changefrom one connection to the other which is completed by the saidauxiliary power source.

8. A mechanically propelled toy comprising a power source, drivingwheels having an axle, gear wheels between said source and said drivingwheels for driving said toy in one direction of travel at one speed,gear wheels between said source and said driving wheels for driving saidtoy in another direction at a difierent speed a movable drivingaxle gearfor alternatively con-' necting one or the other of said gear wheels tosaid source and an auxiliary means comprisinga spring for moving thesaid axle gear from one to the other of said gear wheels.

9. A mechanically propelled toy comprising a power source, drivingwheels having an axle, gear wheels between said source and said drivingwheels for driving said toy in one direction of travel at one speed,gear wheels between said source and said driving wheels for driving saidtoy in another direction at a different speed, a movable driving axlegear for alternatively connecting one or the other of said gear wheelsto said source and auxiliary means comprising a weight for moving thesaid axle gear from one to the other of said gear wheels.

10. A mechanically propelled toy comprising a power source, drivingwheels. gear wheels between said source and said driving wheels fordriving said toy in one direction of travel at one speed, gear wheelsbetween said source and said driving wheels for driving said toy inanother direction at a different speed, a gear wheel alternativelyengageable with one or the other of first two said gear wheels,auxiliary means for moving last said gear wheel and trip mechanismoperable by impact of the toy with an obstacle for releasing power insaid auxiliary power source.

HEINRICH Momma

